NFL Week 1 Lines - Looking Back Can Help Early Handicapping for Next Season by Nicholas Tolomeo - 12/31/2010

In its NFL preview issue, Sports Illustrated nailed five of the six AFC playoff teams, incredibly enough. But one of those playoff teams, the New England Patriots, was predicted to go 10-6 and land a Wild Card berth. In the NFC, it was another story for the magazine. They left the NFC East champion Eagles, NFC North champion Bears and NFC South champion Falcons out of the playoffs.
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NFL Playoff Scenarios for Week 17 by Nicholas Tolomeo - 12/29/2010

Nine of 12 playoff berths are clinched and so are four of the eight divisions, but heading into the final week of the regular season there is still very much up for grabs in terms of the NFL playoff picture. We will lay out some NFL Playoff scenarios to paint a clear picture for you.
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To say the Vikings are a disaster would be a massive understatement. Adrian Peterson is banged up. Brett Favre is hurt. Tarvaris Jackson is on the IR. They have an interim coach that is not making a good argument for having the interim tag removed. Favre hasn't officially been ruled out of this game, and his massive ego could easily lead him to play. However, what we have learned in recent weeks is that even if he does start he's not at all likely to finish.
Read more about NFL Picks: Vikings vs. Eagles.

We are into the nitty gritty of the NFL season. There are just two weeks left, and there is a lot left to be decided in the playoff picture. There are a few things we do know for sure - Chicago is a division champ, and New England, Atlanta and Philadelphia likely will be as well. There is still a lot to be figured out, though. Here are five NFL Wild Card predictions for the teams that will make the postseason and what will happen in the Wild Card round of the playoffs:
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Here's something I wish I had started earlier in the NFL season, but will keep it in mind for 2011. Sportsbook.com offers props on the top quarterback, running back and wide receiver yardage performances each week. So for Week 15 let's take a look at the quarterback odds and your best value bet.
Read more about NFL Picks: Top Quarterback Yardage.

Michael Vick has transformed himself from an imprisoned felon to a trendy pick to win NFL Most Valuable Player. He certainly has been valuable to the Philadelphia Eagles, who are 8-4 and atop the NFC East. The Eagles turned to Vick when starter Kevin Kolb went down with an injury and they turned to him again when Kolb was struggling.
Read more about Michael Vick NFL MVP Contender?.

Week 14 NFL Picks and Odds by Trevor Whenham - 12/7/2010

It was a strong week for these NFL picks last week - the Falcons mounted a late comeback to win and cover, and the Rams didn't need any late heroics to put away the lousy Cardinals. Here's hoping that the momentum carries over to these Week 14 NFL picks and odds:
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NFL Totals Betting: The Year of the 'Over' by Nicholas Tolomeo - 12/7/2010

Nearly every rule change made in the past three seasons has benefited the offense. The increased fines levied against multiple defenders and the scrutiny on those defenders throughout the league has even benefited the offense. Defenders are weary of more fines and potential suspensions. Harrison, Pittsburgh's top linebacker, has already racked up $125,000 in fines.
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Week 13 NFL Picks and Odds by Trevor Whenham - 12/2/2010

It was yet another split weekend. The good news is that St. Louis had a great game - they not only covered the spread as underdogs, but won outright to pay off on the moneyline. The bad news was that the Bills continued to be impressively tough, and they kept it very close against Pittsburgh so the Steelers couldn't cover. Actually, Pittsburgh was lucky not to lose outright - the winning TD was in a Buffalo receiver's hand and absolutely should have been a catch.
Read more about Week 13 NFL Picks and Odds.

2011 Super Bowl Predictions by Trevor Whenham - 11/24/2010

And then there were nine. After every NFL team has played 10 games there are, in my eyes, just nine teams that have shown themselves to still be capable of winning the Super Bowl. Here's a look at each of those nine, with my Super Bowl predictions and odds from BetUS.
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Week 12 NFL Picks and Odds by Trevor Whenham - 11/24/2010

As seems to be the unfortunate trend lately, the picks last week were a split affair. The Bills were brilliant in beating up on a pathetic Bengals team, but the Browns couldn't quite handle the Jaguars. Hopefully, these Week 12 NFL picks and odds will be one step more successful than last week. It's a nice week of action, so I am optimistic:
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NFL Futures Odds: AFC West NFL Picks by Nicholas Tolomeo - 11/23/2010

The Kansas City Chiefs (6-4) are in first place in the AFC West. By rule of tiebreaker the Oakland Raiders (5-5) are second in the division. The Chiefs and Raiders both own wins over the Chargers. Yet it's third-place San Diego (5-5) that is the favorite to win the division, according to NFL futures odds, and it's easy to see why.
Read more about AFC West NFL Picks.

Week 11 NFL Picks and Odds by Trevor Whenham - 11/18/2010

Our fortunes were split with our picks last week. The good news was that the Rams played a good game as I hoped they would. Though they didn't win, they kept it close and covered an over-inflated spread. The bad news was that Tennessee forgot to show up in Miami and were blown out despite facing three different quarterbacks. With a bit of luck these Week 11 NFL picks and odds will be one step more successful than last week.
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The Dallas Cowboys have, in striking detail, shown us the incredible impact a midseason coaching change can have on a team. Under Wade Phillips the Cowboys were lousy all year, and played their worst game of the season just prior to his demise. Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett was handed the keys on Monday, and by Sunday he had his squad looking like a real NFL team for the first time all season.
Read more about Sports Betting Trends.

The stakes are high here - the winner of this 'battle of the birds' is guaranteed to be at least tied for the best record in the league by the end of the weekend's games. Since they play in opposite leagues there is always a chance that this could be a Super Bowl preview.
Read more about NFL Picks: Ravens vs. Falcons.

Week 10 NFL Picks and Odds by Trevor Whenham - 11/10/2010

Last week was, by the very narrowest of possible margins, a very successful week for us. Oakland won their game in overtime against Kansas City by just a field goal after coming back late to force the extra period. I had Oakland -2.5. I also had Indianapolis +3, and they lost by two points. There wasn't a touch of breathing room. Hopefully these Week 10 NFL picks and odds won't be quite as stressful and tightly contested.
Read more about Week 10 NFL Picks and Odds.

NFL Betting Midseason Awards by Trevor Whenham - 11/9/2010

We are past the halfway point of the NFL season - all but four teams have played eight games, and those four have played nine. It's a good time, then, to take stock of what we have seen so far, and which teams have been surprising, exciting, or disappointing from a betting perspective. Here, then, are the 2010 Halfway NFL Betting Awards:
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At some point during this weekend the Saints should have a chat with the Steelers. Both times the Steelers have won the Super Bowl recently they have missed the playoffs the next year. New Orleans is obviously a long way from missing the playoffs, but if they don't get their act together soon then they will be in danger of doing just that. Maybe Pittsburgh could tell them what to do - or more likely what not to do.
Read more about NFL Predictions: Steelers vs. Saints.

Monday Night Football Predictions: New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys by Nicholas Tolomeo - 10/25/2010

The 1-4 Dallas Cowboys are at home on Monday Night Football and playing for their coaches' job, their own jobs and to keep their playoff hopes alive when they meet the 4-2 New York Giants Monday at 8:30 p.m. ET as favorites. Yes the 1-4 Cowboys, losers of their last two and winless at home are favored against the Giants who have won three in a row.
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Week 7 NFL Picks and Odds by Trevor Whenham - 10/23/2010

Last week's picks reinforced two lessons - never count out Tom Brady and Bill Belichick no matter what is going on with them, and no team coached by Wade Phillips should be trusted. It was a frustrating week, but with these week 7 NFL picks and odds I hope that that frustration will be replaced with joy and success.
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Worst Betting Teams Against the NFL Point Spread by Trevor Whenham - 10/20/2010

Last week we looked at the five best teams so far in the NFL season in terms of their success against the spread. Those are the teams we can't help but like. This week we are going to look at the other end of the spectrum - the teams that have burned money by the pile.
Read more about Worst Teams vs. NFL Point Spread.

It's not the most attractive of Monday Night Football matchups, but maybe it should be. The Tennessee Titans visit the Jacksonville Jaguars Monday night at 8:30 p.m. ET with a share of first place in the AFC South on the line.
Read more about NFL Picks: Titans at Jaguars.

The story here is going to be defense - more specifically, Washington's lack of one. In the first year of the Mike Shanahan era the Redskins find themselves dead last in the league in yards allowed. When that is combined with an Indianapolis offense that is the third ranked in the league despite not being nearly as crisp and sharp as we know it can be, then you have a matchup that could be interesting.
Read more about NFL Picks: Colts Vs. Redskins.

Week 6 NFL Picks and Odds by Trevor Whenham - 10/17/2010

Last week was a mixed bag for these picks - Jacksonville was a great pick, but St. Louis was a lousy one. This week with our Week 6 NFL picks and odds we'll look to do a little better - at least we'll try to avoid the 41-point losses. It's just a coincidence that I am on two underdogs this week, but it's not a bad place to be - dogs are a stunning 46-26 ATS through five weeks of the season.
Read more about Week 6 NFL Picks and Odds.

The key to finding teams to bet on or against is the same concept as buying or selling a stock. In the NFL things aren't always as they appear if you are just looking at a team's overall record. In order to stay ahead of the competition and beat the sportsbooks you need to know who are the most overvalued and undervalued teams in the league. Here below are the three most overvalued and undervalued teams in the NFL, currently, in my opinion.
Read more about NFL Betting Advice.

It has been a very good year for underdogs in the NFL so far. That means that it has been a very bad year for people who like to routinely bet favorites - which is most of the general betting public. In turn, that probably means that it has been a pretty good year for sports books so far.
Read more about NFL Betting Lines: Underdogs.

Best NFL Betting Teams Against the Point Spread by Trevor Whenham - 10/13/2010

It has been a very strange season so far in the NFL. The Chiefs and the Cardinals are leading their division after five weeks, while the Vikings, Cowboys, Niners, and Chargers - all serious contenders coming into the season - have been worse than awful. That strange performance has led to some strange happenings against the spread as well. Some teams that are usually strong are burning bettors' money, while some surprising teams are being very kind to bettors. Here's a look at the five best ATS teams of this young season:
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There isn't a team that needs a win this week as badly as San Francisco does. They came into the season with nearly universal expectations of winning their division, yet they have not yet won a game, they have already fired their offensive coordinator, and they have just generally looked lousy. If they get a win here and a bit of luck to go with it then they can still be in the hunt for a playoff spot out of their division. A loss, though, probably puts the last nail - or close to it - in their coffin. It's rough when your season ends in October, so they need this win.
Read more about NFL Picks: Eagles vs. 49ers.

Week 5 NFL Picks and Odds by Trevor Whenham - 10/9/2010

After a couple of rough weeks with these picks we had a very good week last week. Baltimore came through in the end thanks to the heroics of Joe Flacco, and Houston comfortably won at Oakland. Hopefully the week 5 NFL picks and odds will be just as successful. This week we will look at the Rams at Lions and Jaguars at Bills:
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The theme of this game is all about expectations. The Bears are exceeding theirs. They are a team that was very disappointing last year is playing better than most thought they would, and the performance on offense has been particularly notable. The Giants, on the other hand, have fallen well below their expectations. They were picked by many to win their division, but they have just one win in three tries, and have looked a long way from good. Their poor play has put Tom Coughlin on a hot seat, and has led to a media frenzy worthy of New York.
Read more about NFL Picks: Chicago Bears vs. New York Giants.

Week 4 NFL Picks and Odds by Trevor Whenham - 10/3/2010

It has been a very strange start to the NFL season. The freaking Kansas City Chiefs are undefeated, while the Niners haven't even come close to winning a game. Neither of those things make any sense to me, and they aren't the only things. With these week 4 NFL picks and odds let's hope that I can start to find a bit more logic in the proceedings:
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This week's Baltimore-Pittsburgh game is the type that makes you think you should have pads and a helmet on in your living room just to watch these guys hit each other. The Ravens will square off with the Steelers at 1 p.m. on Sunday in the Steel City. This game matches two of the angriest, most violent, most savage, hardest-hitting teams in the NFL.
Read more about NFL Picks: Baltimore Ravens Vs. Pittsburgh Steelers.

Being 0-3 after three weeks in the NFL isn't disastrous, but it is obviously far form ideal. A team can easily make the playoffs after such a bad start - just like Denver showed us last year that you can miss the playoffs after starting 6-0 - but teams that go 0-fer in September certainly aren't making it easy on themselves. There are fie teams after three games in 2010 that have yet to put a win on the board. Here's a look at each of them to see if they are playing up to their potential, or if something is just going wrong, along with some NFL predictions for turning things around:
Read more about NFL Predictions for Winless Teams.

When the Dolphins and the Jets meet up on Sunday night, the stakes will be higher than they have been between these two teams in a while. It's early in the season, but both of these teams have already shown that they have the ability and potential to make the playoffs out of a tough division, and the winner of this game will be better positioned to do so than the loser.
Read more about NFL Predictions and Picks: Dolphins Vs. Jets .

Week 3 NFL Picks and Odds by Trevor Whenham - 9/25/2010

It has been an often surprising and frequently frustrating start to the NFL season from a betting perspective. As we look ahead to week 3 NFL picks and odds, we can hope that this week isn't as surprising. Surprises are great for fans, but lousy for bettors, and I don't know about you but I'd rather that the week's action was boring but profitable than the reverse.
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This is a game that has the media in full-frenzy. After all, it has the perfect media-friendly storyline - two Super Bowl winning quarterbacks who just happen to be brothers meeting up for just the second time in their careers. What more could you want? Well, personally I would rather watch two teams without so many questions coming out of their openers. And I would rather not watch Eli Manning at any point, but I might be the exception.
Read more about NFL Predictions and Picks: Giants vs. Colts.

Week 2 NFL Picks and Odds by Trevor Whenham - 9/19/2010

Week 1 of the 2010-11 NFL season is in the books and now we look ahead to some Week 2 NFL picks and odds. This week we will focus on what I consider two of the biggest games on the board for NFL betting, and that is the Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals and the Houston Texans at the Washington Redskins.
Read more about Week 2 NFL Picks and Odds.

It was a strange opening weekend in the NFL. Of course, most weeks in the NFL are a bit strange - that's why it's such a wildly popular league. Some things went according to expectations, but a whole lot didn't. Here's a look at some of the interesting betting trends that emerged in the opening week of action - these can always help with your Week 2 NFL picks:
Read more about Betting Trends for NFL Picks Week 2.

Monday Night Football may have landed the premier AFC game of week with the Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets, two teams brimming with confidence and high expectations that will face off at the new Meadowlands Stadium at 7 p.m. EST Monday.
Read more about NFL Predictions for Monday Night Football: Ravens at Jets.

Dallas and Washington certainly don't get to ease into the regular season. They start things off with a brutal NFC East contest that could have repercussions right through to January. Dallas is hosting the Super Bowl this year, and the pressure couldn't possibly be higher for the Cowboys to play in it as well. The Redskins have gone through a major overhaul - new coach, new QB - and have had a training camp far too heavy in drama, so they will be looking to make a statement to start things off on the right foot, and a win here would certainly be a statement.
Read more about NFL Predictions and Picks for Week 1: Cowboys vs. Redskins.

No professional sport changes more from year to year then the National Football League. Many teams come back looking completely different from the product they put on the field just eight months earlier. Every year in the NFL there is a handful of teams that will take a big step forward or backwards from the previous year. The key is figuring out who these teams are before everyone else does.
Read more about Free NFL Pick Lions Vs. Bears.

Sam Bradford presents NFL handicappers with a very interesting puzzle. He's obviously a phenomenally talented player, and he performed so far above expectations in the NFL Preseason that he has already won a QB contest that was expected to last at least a few weeks longer. The hype really couldn't be higher than it is now - and that's saying something for a guy who went No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft. The problem, of course, is that Bradford, while a special quarterback, is on a terrible team. Really awful.
Read more about NFL Predictions for Sam Bradford.

For us, the huddled gambling masses, the dream and distraction of another glorious NFL season gets underway on Thursday night with the opening kickoff of the 2010's first game. For the Minnesota Vikings it will be like being forced in Week 1 to march into the wasteland of some demented, demonic nightmare from 2009's last game.
Read more about NFL Week 1 Picks and Predictions: Vikings Vs. Saints.

A few weeks ago here at Doc's, we gave you our recommendations on which player would lead the NFL in receiving yards in 2010. Well, a tight end is never going to lead the league in yardage in this modern NFL, so Bodog also offers a prop on which player from that position has the most yards this season.
Read more about NFL Betting Predictions: Tight End Props.

That price on Moreno is pretty attractive, but he suffered a slight hamstring tear on Aug. 1 and is just recently back practicing with the team. He seems a bit injury-prone - he also was hurt in camp last year - and I don't happen to think the Broncos will be very good, which could limit his touches if they are always coming from behind. Plus, he will lose some carries to Correll Buckhalter.
Read more about NFL Betting Predictions: Second-Year Running Backs.

NFL Predictions: Most Improved Defenses by Trevor Whenham - 9/4/2010

Oakland Raiders - This defense had some real issues last year - especially against the run. They should have that under control this year - at least they shouldn't be so laughably bad. The defense last year was chaotic - not a surprise given that it's the Raiders.
Read more about NFL Predictions: Most Improved Defenses.

2010-11 NFL Predictions for Every Team by Trevor Whenham - 9/2/2010

The NFL season is about to get underway. Finally. That means that now is a good time to make NFL predictions - the kind that I will surely come to regret as they become ridiculously inaccurate in short order. Fearlessly, I'm about to set out to make a prediction about every team in the league:
Read more about NFL Predictions Each Team.

NFL Predictions: Surprise Teams for Early in the NFL Season by Jason Sharpe - 9/2/2010

When a handicapping an NFL football card, sports bettors should always be looking to buy certain teams that most of the other bettors may not be looking at. This is much like the stock market term of looking too "buy low". Sure, we all know that the Colts and Saints are two of the best teams in football once again this year, but this isn't likely to make us any money as the oddsmakers put a higher tax on the so called 'good teams'
Read more about NFL Predictions: Surprise Teams.

2010-11 NFL Predictions by Robert Ferringo - 9/1/2010

Each season professional NFL handicappers like my colleagues and I gear up for the six-month gauntlet that is the professional football betting season. We make our living on the strength and profitability of our NFL predictions, as the NFL season is the marquee battleground in the annual wager war that goes on between bettors and bookies throughout this great nation. But the road to riches is littered with the decaying carcasses and shattered dreams of many men whose NFL picks, plays and predictions met a horrific and unfortunate end. Fickle Fate tests. NFL profits beckon the soul. Brutal is the path.
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It seems pretty much inevitable that the NFL is going to go to an 18-game schedule soon - perhaps as soon as 2012. The Commissioner is committed to it, the owners couldn't be more in favor of it, and the Collective Bargaining Agreement allows for it, so there is no real impediment to making it happen - regardless of what the players might think.
Read more about 18-Game Schedule.

NFL Predictions for Hot Seat: Which Head Coach is Fired First in 2010? by Alan Matthews - 9/1/2010

The NFL team and players props are rolling out hot and heavy at the books now with the regular season set to open a week from Thursday in New Orleans. With that said, today let's take a look at … a coaching prop? The NFL definitely isn't like Major League Baseball, the NBA or NHL in that it's fairly unusual for a head coach to be let do during the NFL regular season.
Read more about NFL Predictions for Coaching Hot Seat:.

Super Bowl futures odds this year indicate that the public seems to be feeling what I certainly am this year - that there are a lot of decent teams, but no clearly great ones. There are eight teams at 11/1 or lower at Bodog to win the big prize. That's a quarter of the league - a whole lot to be given such a strong chance of winning it all at this point in the season.
Read more about Super Bowl Futures Odds.

Sunday night's game between Pittsburgh and Denver is the lone game on the schedule that day and because it is nationally televised by FOX there will be live betting on Bodog, if you are so inclined. This is a "rematch" of Week 9 in Denver last season when the Steelers won, 28-10. The rushing attacks were the difference in that one as Pittsburgh's Rashard Mendenhall ran for 155 yards, becoming the fourth player since 1970 to top 150 yards rushing in a win at Denver.
Read more about NFL Predictions: Steelers at Broncos.

How Fantasy Football Correelates With NFL Betting by Trevor Whenham - 8/28/2010

Fantasy football is wildly popular and is getting to be more so every year. It seems like everyone has a fantasy team or two these days, and information is nearly as widely available as information about the NFL itself. Among the people who play fantasy football are inevitably many people who bet on NFL football as well. There is no real reason why you can't do both - fantasy football is just another form of gambling for most people, anyway.
Read more about Fantasy Football and NFL Betting.

For a preseason game there are a lot of storylines in this one. First, for the second time in two days we have a potential Super Bowl preview. The defending champs are the second choice overall in Super Bowl futures odds, and the Chargers are the second choice out of the AFC. More significant than that, though, this is just Drew Brees' second chance to play against the team that unceremoniously dumped him. No matter what he says there is no way that Brees doesn't get an extra spring in his step heading into this one.
Read more about NFL Predictions: Saints vs. Chargers.

If it wasn't for the Detroit Lions and St. Louis Rams, the Kansas City Chiefs would have to be considered the bottom-feeders of the NFL the past three seasons, but thanks to those two K.C. simply has the title as worst franchise in the AFC in that stretch (yes, even worse than the Raiders) with a cumulative 10-38 record
Read more about NFL Predictions: Kansas City Chiefs.

It's hard to get too excited about any game that takes place in August, but this one is a little different than most. There is a pretty decent chance that what we see here could be a preview of the Super Bowl. The Colts are favored to win the big prize, and the Packers are tied as the second choice out of the NFC with the Vikings and behind the Cowboys. It's also a chance to see two public teams that don't play each other very often clash.
Read more about NFL Predictions: Colts Vs. Packers.

NFL Preseason Betting: Handicapping the Third Game by Trevor Whenham - 8/26/2010

The third game of the NFL Preseason is a unique beast. In my eyes it's really the only preseason game worth playing close attention to. You can gain knowledge about team depth and backup quarterbacks in the early games, but Game 3 is when you can learn the most. It's not an exaggeration to say that the game is fundamentally different than the two that came before it, or the game that comes after it (the fourth preseason games, by the way, are unquestionably and absolutely the stupidest sporting events on the planet).
Read more about NFL Preseason Betting: Handicapping the Third Game.

The Oakland Raiders can't get any worse, right? Oakland finished 5-11 last season for its NFL-record seventh consecutive season with at least 11 losses, and the Raiders are 29-83 since losing to Tampa Bay in Super Bowl XXXVII.
Read more about NFL Predictions: Oakland Raiders.

This is an interesting time in the year in the NFL because every team thinks that they have improved significantly, and every fan base thinks that their team is going to be a pleasant surprise. Optimism runs wild. The sports media doesn't help - when was the last time you heard a guy visit a training camp and not leave with at least a few things he's wildly impressed with.
Read more about NFL Predictions: Most Improved Offenses.

2011 Super Bowl Predictions by Trevor Whenham - 8/24/2010

It's amazing how much things can change in the NFL - even when games aren't being played. Back in February I wrote an article looking at my Super Bowl predictions for the upcoming season. Since then we've seen the NFL Draft, free agency, more trades than we are used to, some injuries, a couple of holdouts, a few suspensions, and all sorts of other changes. Looking back now there are a lot of things that I still stand behind, but some that just don't make any sense anymore. This is a good time, then, to revisit the predictions and adjust them as needed based on what has happened in the last six months. (All odds are from 5Dimes)
Read more about Super Bowl Predictions.

Coming off a 5-11 season in 2008, not much was expected of the Jacksonville Jaguars last season and many thought it would be the final year on the sidelines for Coach Jack Del Rio and his staff. But after starting 0-2 last season, the Jags started playing quite well - yet would also throw in an occasional stinker.
Read more about 2010 NFL Predictions: Jacksonville Jaguars.

By the time NFL training camps start we have created expectations for every team in the league and how we expect them to perform. Until we see how the teams respond to the challenges of training camp, though, we are really just guessing based on what we see on paper. Every year there are a few teams that show early signs that are better than what we expect, and others that give us some reasons to be concerned early on. Here's a look at three teams off to rough starts, and two that have been surprising so far:
Read more about NFL Training Camps.

The Tennessee Titans were a schizophrenic bunch in 2009 after coming off a 2008 season that saw them with the best regular season record in the NFL. The team started 0-5 last season, which was bad enough, but in Week 6 things reached complete rock bottom. The Patriots won 59-0 in the snow at Foxborough in one of the most embarrassing moments in Titans/Oilers history.
Read more about 2010 NFL Predictions: Tennessee Titans.

Don't you just love some of these NFL fan sites? When doing a little research on this story to analyze the 2010 Cleveland Browns schedule and futures odds, I couldn't help but chuckle when many of them had Cleveland possibly starting 2-0 - ah, preseason optimism, yet the team actually could -- but then if the Browns somehow dropped their first two Browns fans were looking at probably at least a 0-9 start.
Read more about 2010 NFL Predictions: Cleveland Browns .

It's a serious mistake to read too much into what happens in the NFL Preseason - especially in the first game. Starters don't play much, and there is a lot of rust, so there are ample opportunities for a player to shine in the first game far more than he might once the games actually matter. That being said, the first game can give us a glimpse of players who are ready to do more than people are expecting of them.
Read more about NFL Preseason Betting Advice.

Here's one thing I can guarantee you: unfortunately for the Denver Broncos there will be a new sack champion in the NFL this season. Broncos linebacker Elvis Dumervil led the league with 17 sacks last year and got a fat new contract this offseason for doing so.
Read more about NFL Predictions: Sack Leader .

Every preseason game a team plays in the NFL is different than the others. In their first game teams don't want to expose their starters to any risk, in the third they want the starters to play most of the game, and so on. Because of that there is inevitably going to be a fair bit of change and adjustment from game to game - yet another reason why preseason games can be a challenge for those betting on the NFL Preseason.
Read more about NFL Preseason Betting Tips.

NFL Predictions: NFC West Odds and Preview with Football Betting Picks by Robert Ferringo - 8/16/2010

Over the last three years the NFC West has posted the worst record in the league against nondivisional opponents. They are an absolutely pathetic 54-102 over the last three seasons against the rest of the league, and that is continuing what has been a clear-cut trend over the last decade. Since the league went to an eight-division format in 2002 the NFC West has gone just 168-248 against the rest of the league, posting just one winning season (2003) during that time while losing 60 percent of its games to everyone else.
Read more about NFL Predictions.

We've already given you our look at the 2010 passing yardage leader here at Doc's, so now let's take a gander at the guys who catch those balls and try and project the best value bet on the player with some NFL predictions the most receiving yards in the league this season.
Read more about NFL Predictions: Player Props for Wide Receivers.

This is the third installment of our previews of NFL player props available at various books - passing yardage and receiving yardage being the first two - so today let's look at which player might lead the NFL in rushing this season and who provides the best betting value.
Read more about NFL Predictions: Player Props for Running Backs.

We continue with our onslaught of NFL prop stories with the odds, courtesy of WagerWeb, on which quarterback will lead the NFL in passing yards this season. Now, this probably seems like an easy bet, but I want you to quickly tell yourself who led the league in passing yards last year. …. You probably said Drew Brees, and he was the NFC leader again. But Houston's Matt Schaub led the NFL with 4,770 yards, so guys can deliver on some pretty long odds.
Read more about NFL Predictions: Player Props for Quarterbacks.

The Buffalo Bills were the worst team in the AFC East last season and there's simply no way they won't be again this year. I mean, it was almost a sad offseason for this team. The Bills couldn't get any big-name coaches to even listen to them for their head coaching job, so they settled on retread Chan Gailey. Terrell Owens also is gone - not necessarily a bad thing - and Buffalo cut its best pass rusher, Aaron Schobel, who basically said he would retire rather than play for the Bills.
Read more about NFL Predictions: Buffalo Bills.

Most people tune in to Colts games to watch the magic of Peyton Manning. If that's you then you probably don't need to bother with this one. Manning has thrown a total of seven passes combined in the last three years in the first preseason game, and it's highly unlikely he will see more than two series here. The only thing he'll be interested in working on here is his relationship with new centers because stalwart Jeff Saturday is out for up to six weeks with knee surgery. Manning has never cared about the preseason in the past, and he's not going to start now.
Read more about NFL Preseason Game Odds and Preview.

Obviously 2009 was a disappointment for the Pittsburgh Steelers, as the reigning Super Bowl champs' season seemed to go off track right in Week 1 when star safety Troy Polamalu got injured. He was never the same the rest of the season the few times he did play, and the Pittsburgh defense wasn't the same, either. The Steelers were still good against the run, but not so much against the pass, and that unit couldn't hold a lot of fourth-quarter leads. Thus Polamalu's return to health is a huge key this year.
Read more about NFL Predictions: Pittsburgh Steelers.

Many find it hard to believe when I tell them that betting the NFL Preseason can be very profitable. However, it's very true and most of the professional sports bettors that I associate with here in Las Vegas will tell you the exact same thing: if you put in the necessary work each week you can win betting on NFL Preseason games.
Read more about NFL Preseason Betting Tips, Strategy and Advice.

Brett Favre. We are always talking about Brett Favre. There are a bunch of reasons for that, but the biggest one is that that's exactly what Brett Favre wants. He's the quintessential media whore - someone for Paris Hilton to look up to. Typically I would avoid talking about a guy like that just on principle. The problem here, though, is that the situation he has created is just so compelling from a handicapping perspective.
Read more about Brett Favre and Minnesota Vikings Betting Impact.

With all due respect to the players the New England Patriots, New York Jets and Buffalo Bills have added this offseason - OK, I probably shouldn't include the Bills - there was no bigger potential addition in this division than the Dolphins trading for Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall.
Read more about NFL Predictions: Dolphins.

You may have heard a thing or two about the Washington Redskins this offseason following a 2009 4-12 season and the end of the Jim Zorn era. Of course, Mike Shanahan was brought in as coach, bringing instant credibility to the franchise with his two Super Bowl rings (albeit none without John Elway).
Read more about NFL Predictions: Washington Redskins.

NFL MVP Predictions and Betting Odds by Alan Matthews - 8/10/2010

Is there really any point to bet on anyone other than Peyton Manning as the likely 2010 NFL Most Valuable Player (as decided by the Associated Press)? In fact, betting on the NFL MVP is really often a pretty easy proposition in that only the biggest stars tend to win this award, much like in the NBA. An American League or National League MVP can come from pseudo-nowhere to win that, like the Reds' Joey Votto this year, for example, or the Red Sox's Dustin Pedroia a few years ago.
Read more about NFL MVP Predictions.

One of the most exciting things to watch every year in the NFL is the inevitable emergence of surprising stars. Despite all of the scouting and the endless coverage there are still players who can come from nowhere to blow the doors off of a season. Two big names jump out as ideal examples from last season. Before last year Dallas receiver Miles Austin had 18 catches for 354 yards. He was finally given a chance to shine last year, and he made the most of it - 81 catches for 1,320 yards, and more than a few jaw-dropping highlights.
Read more about NFL Predictions for Breakout Stars.

It is fitting that the NFL will again kick off its season in the shadow of its legends, its myths, and its history. Football is the new national pastime in this nation, and it has reached its chimerical level in part because of the consistent, communal, and seasonal nature of the sports. The whims and amusement of summer is winding to a close and our consciousness is slowly settling back into another focused fall and, inexorably, an unwavering winter.
Read more about NFL, Predictions: Hall of Fame.

NFL Predictions: Green Bay Packers May Be In For Turnover Hangover by Robert Ferringo - 8/6/2010

Turnovers are the fickle mistress of the NFL. Inexplicable fumbles, fluke bounces for interceptions, muffed punts, bumbled snaps, tipped passes into unexpected arms; these are weekly occurrences in NFL betting and they can be the difference between winning and losing, insanity and exaltation, and the stench and weight of sheer and utter failure or the unstoppable confidence and high of unimpeded success.
Read more about NFL Predictions: Green Bay Packers.

NFL Handicapping System: Yards Per Point by Robert Ferringo - 8/6/2010

Yards Per Point is an excellent statistic to utilize in NFL handicapping because, in its own way, it accounts for much of the "hidden yardage" that is otherwise difficult to quantify on game day. Although it's actually pretty basic to calculate, Yards Per Point isn't a common NFL statistic and there aren't any mainstream databases that regularly track and update it throughout the season. However, it is a number that many professional handicappers rely on to give them greater insight into what is actually going on down on the gridiron each week.
Read more about NFL Handicapping System.

NFL Predictions: NFC North Odds and Preview with Football Betting Picks by Robert Ferringo - 8/6/2010

The "Norris" Division is what football is all about. The Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears are two of the pillars of American football. The Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions are two more venerable organizations that made their mark the same way as the Pack and as The Monsters of the Midway: by playing a brutish, cannibalistic brand of football that laid the foundation of the modern game. Pound the ball on the ground and play great defense, that was the mantra and that's what these teams did. They did it in the elements. They did it outdoors, in the bitter cold, in the woodland areas of the Midwest. And they set the standard for physical play in the NFL for half a century
Read more about NFL Predictions.

NFL Predictions: Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds and Betting Picks by Alan Matthews - 8/6/2010

With the NFL exhibition season kicking off Friday and Brett Favre already dominating the NFL news cycles - I'm sure that story won't be over until Opening Day - it's time for the writers here at Doc's Sports to start inundating you with NFL predictions and player prop picks stories.
Read more about NFL Predictions: Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Well, if their trend continues, the Lions will reach four wins this season after going an infamous 0-16 in 2008 and then "improving" to 2-14 last year. Unfortunately the Lions weren't able to break their road-losing streak, which is now at 20 games in a row (2001-'03 Lions own record of 24 in a row). And Detroit actually lost at home to St. Louis last year for the Rams' lone win of the 2009 season and their first road win since midway through the 2008 season.
Read more about NFL Predictions: Lions.

There aren't many guarantees in life and, unfortunately, not in sports betting, either. But here's one thing I can absolutely guarantee you when betting on this year's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award winner: there will never be a player to match 2008 winner Brian Cushing of the Houston Texans.
Read more about NFL Predictions.

NFL Predictions: NFC East Odds and Preview with Football Betting Picks by Robert Ferringo - 8/4/2010

In the last five years there have only been three occasions where a team from the NFC East has finished below .500. That's just three losing records out of a possible 20 for the clubs in this division. That is a testament to just how tough, talented and focused the teams from the NFC East have been over the last half-decade in what is the most competitive division in the sport.
Read more about NFL Predictions.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers started their rebuilding process last year and it showed with a 3-13 record. But the scary part is that the Bucs will be even younger in 2010 so even a .500 record, much less a playoff spot, is a pipe dream.
Read more about Buccaneers Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions.

It's probably fair to say that the St. Louis Rams have become the sad-sack franchise in the NFL. Last year the Rams went 1-15 for their third straight losing season (a total of six wins in that stretch). Fans in St. Louis haven't witnessed a Ram victory in person in that city since Oct. 19, 2008. And ESPN had a cool stat: every team in the NFL has at least four players who have been to at least one Pro Bowl. Every team but the Rams, who have one: running back Steven Jackson, and he's coming off offseason back surgery.
Read more about Rams Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions.

NFL Handicapping: Top Free Agent Signings in 2010 by Robert Ferringo - 8/2/2010

Right now the signing of T.O. by Cincinnati is making waves and getting headlines. But all of that hype is coming from people either outside of the sport or from people that are worried more about the entertainment aspect of America's Pastime than they are the execution aspect. The reality is that while Owens is now more caricature than pass catcher he doesn't really address the core needs that the Bengals offense has.
Read more about NFL Handicapping.

NFL Handicapping: Least Improved Teams by Trevor Whenham - 7/31/2010

This is the time in the NFL when everyone is optimistic about everything. People around the league believe that this is the year that their team is going all the way, and that all of its players will emerge as superstars. In a lot of cases it makes sense to be at least a little optimistic as teams have worked hard to improve and become more competitive. Some teams, though, just didn't do enough to warrant any optimism. Here's a look at the two teams - one in each conference - that haven't done nearly enough to improve in the offseason:
Read more about NFL Handicapping.

At least in the front office and on the coaching staff, it's hard to argue any team underwent a bigger facelift in the offseason than the Seattle Seahawks. And it was time for a change, as following a 2007 record of 10-6 and a division title, the Seahawks have won just nine games since, including a 5-11 record last season that was full of injuries all over the field.
Read more about Seahawks Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions.

The public often surprises me with their opinions and love affairs. Rarely, though, have they surprised me as much as they have this year with their enthusiastic early embrace of the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs won just four games last year and had a whole lot of woes - they didn't underachieve at that win total. Despite that, their NFL season win total was set aggressively at 6.5 this year by oddsmakers. That's a big step forward from last year, but it wasn't nearly enough for the betting public.
Read more about NFL Season Win Totals.

There has never been a repeat champion of the NFC South Division - beware, New Orleans Saints - and the Carolina Panthers were the victims of the South curse last season, following up their 2008 12-4 record and division title with an 8-8 record and no playoff visit last year. And really that 8-8 record was a bit misleading because Carolina had to win its final three games to manage a .500 mark.
Read more about Panthers Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions.

The usually frugal Chicago Bears, it was said, didn't fire Coach Lovie Smith following last season's incredibly disappointing 7-9 season because the team didn't want to have to pay Smith to not coach for the next two years left on his contract.
Read more about Bears Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions.

As I write this the first pick in the NFL Draft, Sam Bradford, has not yet signed his contract, but there is no reason to think that he won't do so soon, or that he won't join his new team in St. Louis for most or all of training camp. Negotiations are underway and both sides realize that a record deal is going to be signed, so there is little contention.
Read more about Sam Bradford Rookie Predictions.

There are few things that can turn around the fate of an NFL team faster than a quarterback who dramatically improves their game. It's not just that a team gets better play from the QB position that fuels the improvement. Better quarterbacking causes the team to be more confident, and it forces opposing defenses to work harder and question more. Here's a look at five guys who could take major steps forward in their development this year:
Read more about NFL Quarterback Predictions.

2010 New York Jets Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions by Alan Matthews - 7/27/2010

I would argue that no team changed more during last season than the New York Jets. They and rookie QB Mark Sanchez were the talk of the NFL early last season as New York started 3-0, beating all potential playoff teams (although only one - the Pats - made it). Then Sanchez sort of hit the wall and New York went into the tank, losing six of seven to seemingly put the playoffs out of reach.
Read more about Jets Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions.

2010 New York Giants Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions by Alan Matthews - 7/27/2010

The credit that New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin has in the metaphoric bank with the New York Giants thanks to that Super Bowl victory in the 2007 season is reportedly about gone now following last year's 8-8 record (following a 5-0 start). By most accounts - including former linebacker Antonio Pierce - Coughlin is squarely on the hot seat if the G-Men don't get back to the playoffs in 2010.
Read more about Giants Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions.

In their first full season with Mike Singletary as coach, the San Francisco 49ers definitely showed signs that they might be a team to be reckoned with this season with some stellar pieces in place. For example, the Niners swept the NFC West champion Arizona Cardinals last season on their way to finishing 8-8.
Read more about 49ers Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions.

Thanks in large part to a fluke last-minute play in Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Denver Broncos got off to a surprising 6-0 start under rookie coach Josh McDaniels in 2009 and people were calling McDaniels a mini-Bill Belichick. But then Kyle Orton remembered he was Kyle Orton and the Broncos started playing more to the level of their overall talent, winning just two more games the rest of the year to finish 8-8 and out of the playoffs yet again.
Read more about Broncos Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions.

The Houston Texans had the best season in franchise history in 2009, finishing with their first winning record at 9-7 after back-to-back seasons at 8-8. Still, most around the team would still call it a disappointment because the playoffs were expected - Houston did have a chance to get in on the final Sunday of the 2009 season with a little help but it didn't happen.
Read more about Texans Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions.

We're used to seeing wide receivers move around every NFL offseason. It's not often, though, that we see two of the caliber that we have seen in this offseason find new homes. Anquan Boldin and Brandon Marshall are both difference makers - elite pass catchers in rare company. They both have some real attitude issues as well, but what receiver doesn't these days?
Read more about NFL Betting.

The Baltimore Ravens went into the regular-season finale in 2008 needing a win to reach the playoffs and last season was no different as an 8-7 Ravens team went to Oakland knowing a loss would keep them at home. But being as it was the Raiders, Baltimore had little trouble in a 21-13 victory that got it a Wild-Card round matchup with New England.
Read more about Ravens Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions.

Big time running backs have always been major stars in the NFL, and with guys like Chris Johnson and Adrian Peterson around there certainly isn't a shortage of ridiculous talent in the league right now. As fun as it is to watch a running back have a huge game, though, if you're a sports bettor you unquestionably have to be more concerned about how a good running game translates to betting success for teams. Here's a look back at how top running teams last year performed against the spread:
Read more about NFL Betting.

The 2009 season has to be considered pretty successful for the Green Bay Packers, as they won five more games than in 2008 - Aaron Rodgers' first year as the starting QB - and earned a playoff spot before their defense was gutted by Kurt Warner in the Wild-Card round against the Arizona Cardinals.
Read more about Packers Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions.

The Atlanta Falcons were one of the surprise teams in the NFL in 2008 as Matt Ryan had one of the best rookie seasons ever for a quarterback and Michael Turner lit up the league in his first season in Atlanta, and out of LaDainian Tomlinson's shadow in San Diego.
Read more about Falcons Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions.

The San Diego Chargers' regular season was a huge success last year as the Bolts ended it on an 11-game winning streak to match the best single-season streak in franchise history. San Diego's 13 wins were the second-most in franchise history. But once again the playoffs were a disappointment, as the Bolts - the AFC's No. 2 seed -- were upset at home by the New York Jets.
Read more about Chargers Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions.

A new era is definitely under way in Philly as the Eagles will be without long-time stars Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook when they open the 2010 season. McNabb helped lead the Eagles to a 11-5 regular-season record last season, but back-to-back poor performance by the quarterback in the season finale and Wild-Card playoff game against Dallas led to his shocking trade to the Washington Redskins.
Read more about Eagles Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions.

NFL Season Win Totals Predictions by Trevor Whenham - 7/19/2010

Here's a quick look at the NFL season win totals for each team. We will offer some season win totals predictions to see which ones make sense and which ones seem out of whack (totals are from Bodog). There are some great chances to make money here if you are willing to tie up some of your bankroll for the entire NFL regular season:
Read more about NFL Season Win Totals Predictions.

The Arizona Cardinals, and in particular Kurt Warner, have been a nice story the past two seasons. Of course, in 2008 Warner led the Cards to their first Super Bowl and just one Santonio Holmes catch from one of the great Super Bowl upsets.
Read more about Cardinals Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions.

The Cincinnati Bengals were one of the surprises of the NFL last year as they won the AFC North at 10-6 and swept the other three division opponents. It was the first season the Bengals reached double-digit wins since 2005. In my opinion, it was all a mirage.
Read more about Bengals Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions.

I don't know about you, but the endless wait for the start of football season is killing me. The offseason for both college football and the NFL is just too long to handle. The season is getting close, and training camps will soon open, but there is still a whole lot of time to kill. To help pass that time I like to find every way I can to think about football and get ready for the upcoming seasons.
Read more about Rankings and Predictions for NFL Divisions .

Bad calls by officials, crippling and unsightly turnovers, and devastating injuries are all part of what makes football betting the masochistic masterpiece that it is. All three are at the whim of Gravity and the Gambling Gods, and that unholy trinity is at the core of luck, losses, and/or liquor-induced comas each and every season.
Read more about NFL Handicapping.

In a perfect world, I wouldn't write an analysis of the 2010 Minnesota Vikings schedule until late August, which is probably when Brett Favre makes his return "official" - with LeBron James finally deciding his NBA future, now it's Favre's "will he or won't he" that probably dominates the sports headlines for a while. But we all know he's playing this year because he already has had ankle surgery that he wouldn't have needed if he wasn't going to play football. And he's also out throwing to high schoolers in Mississippi.
Read more about Vikings Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions.

Is 18-Game NFL Season Good or Bad for Bettors? by Trevor Whenham - 7/7/2010

Without looking at a calendar you can tell every year when the endless NFL national obsession is short of real news, because some sort of debate always breaks out. Right now the NFL Draft is in the rear view mirror, most of the free agents have found new homes, coaching changes have been made, and training camps are still a ways off. There's just not a lot going on.
Read more about 18-Game NFL Season.

You think Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is, well, "jonesing" to see his club play in this winter's Super Bowl on the Cowboys' home field? Jones would like nothing more than to turn those two weeks before the big game into all things Dallas. No team in NFL history has hosted a Super Bowl it played in.
Read more about Cowboys Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions.

The Brett Favre Circus Starts Again by Trevor Whenham - 7/2/2010

Brett Favre just couldn't handle being out of the news. Maybe it was all the attention everyone is paying to where LeBron James will play next year. Or maybe he was jealous because Phil Jackson, the second most diva-ish retirement fiend behind Favre, has been gaining headlines surrounding his indecision (although he re-signed with the Lakers yesterday). Or perhaps Favre is just sick of hearing about the World Cup.
Read more about Will Brett Farve Reurn?.

Our second team-by-team NFL schedule breakdown focuses on the second-place team from last season, the Indianapolis Colts. And other than death and taxes there seems to be one sure thing in life: Indianapolis winning at least 12 regular-season games, as it has done for a record seven seasons in a row.
Read more about Colts Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions.

We of course have to start at the top here at Doc's with our 2010 team-by-team NFL schedule analysis, so today we give you the Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints.
Oddsmakers at BetUS have listed the Saints as +900 to win Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington next February; just the Colts at +800 have shorter NFL futures odds.
Read more about Saints Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions.

It has been years since the New England Patriots weren't overwhelming favorites to win the AFC East. After all, the Pats have won it six of the past seven years and the one season they didn't Tom Brady was lost in the season opener and they still tied the Dolphins atop the division. But there it is on Bodog's NFL futures odds to win the AFC East: Jets +130, Patriots +135.
Read more about Patriots Strength of Schedule, Futures Odds and Predictions.

NFL Week 1 Odds and Early Predictions by Alan Matthews - 6/10/2010

We are less than two months away from the start of NFL training camps (hallelujah!), which means that several NFL props are starting to be released at the books. I also will be taking a look at some of the top teams' NFL schedules and do an analysis of their likely win totals in a few weeks here at Doc's. But today let's take a look at the NFL Week 1 odds that have been posted on BetUS. Here's just a quick comment on each game if you simply can't wait to get those bets down.
Read more about NFL Week 1 Odds and Early Predictions.

2010 NFL Undrafted Free Agent Signings by Doc's Sports - 5/18/2010

If you are looking for NFL undrafted free agents signings you have come to the right place as below we have a current list of 2010 NFL undrafted free agent signings for each NFL team. Even though these guys did not get picked up in the NFL Draft, they still have a great chance to make the 2010 squad as many undrafted NFL free agents have had great success in the NFL.
Read more about NFL Undrafted Free Agent Signings.

Has the Tim Tebow hysteria died down yet? All of Gator Nation was ecstatic that their boy was drafted in the first round by the Denver Broncos last week, while all those (delirious) Denver fans already can see Tebow becoming the franchise's best quarterback since John Elway. Obviously that's silly, but you can bet that Tebow's No. 15 Broncos jersey will be a hot seller not just in the Mile High City but all over the country.
Read more about Tim Tebow Broncos Predictions.

Impact of the 'Big Ben' Suspension by Nicholas Tolomeo - 4/21/2010

Now that Big Ben is officially Big Banned and with the NFL schedule being released, we can look ahead to see how the 2010-11 NFL season shapes up for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Roger Goodell officially handed down the six-game suspension for Roethlisberger on Wednesday.
Read more about Big Ben Suspension.

Handicapping NFL Overtime Rule Changes by Trevor Whenham - 4/9/2010

The NFL as a league is very good at a lot of things. Unfortunately, one of those things is making knee jerk reactions instead of considered decisions. A perfect example of that is the decision to change the overtime playoff rules this offseason. There is no doubt that the NFL's playoff format is broken and in need of a massive change. The way they went about doing it, though, just didn't make any sense.
Read more about NFL Overtime Rule Changes.

NFL Free Agency Impact Players by Trevor Whenham - 3/19/2010

NFL free agency still rages on, and it will to some extent until the season starts. The biggest splashes have been made, though, and the teams with the greatest sense of urgency have addressed their issues. Now that the smoke has cleared on the initial flurry of moves it's a good time to look at the deals that have been done so far to see which ones have the biggest impact for bettors. Here are seven that stand out as the most significant in my eyes:
Read more about NFL Free Agency Impact Players.

New NFL Overtime Rules and Betting Effect by Pat Spence - 3/8/2010

In 1974 the NFL adopted sudden death overtime for regular season games, allowing for ties if neither team scored in the 15 minute extra period. Playoff games have always been sudden death. Now, after ironman Brett Farve's Minnesota Vikings didn't get the ball and a chance to win or tie in the 31-28 NFC Championship loss to eventual Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints, the NFL Competition Committee is considering a rule change, but only for the Playoffs.
Read more about New NFL Overtime Rules and Betting Effect.

2011 Super Bowl Futures Predictions by Robert Ferringo - 2/12/2010

Some people are still reeling from their Super Bowl party or Super Bowl winner's parade, and the memories from a great game between New Orleans and Indianapolis in The Big Game are still as fresh as the stains on those clothes or the DWI ticket you picked up that night.
Read more about Super Bowl Futures Predictions.

Will Favre Play Next Season? Bet on It! by Matt Severance - 2/11/2010

Look, I have absolutely no clue if Brett Favre will return to the NFL for next season. I'm pretty sure Favre himself has no idea, either, despite saying right after the Vikings' NFC title game loss to the Saints that he was "highly unlikely" to return. But let's not take the word of probably the most wishy-washy athlete in pro sports history.
Read more about Will Favre Play Next Season.

2011 Super Bowl Predictions by Trevor Whenham - 2/10/2010

The Super Bowl has been over for two days now, so it is definitely time for us to start looking towards next year. The odds are posted, so there's no reason for us not to make a bold pick or two. We need to recognize, of course, that this is a practically impossible task. Anyone who told at that they picked the Saints at this point last year is either lying or crazy. (all odds are from 5Dimes)
Read more about Super Bowl Predictions.

NFL Handicapping: Offseason Storylines by Trevor Whenham - 2/10/2010

It seems hard to believe, but the football season is over. Until training camps start in the middle of the summer we won't get to see teams play again, and we won't see another meaningful game until September. That seems like an impossibly long time to wait. Luckily, the NFL never really rests.
Read more about NFL Offseason Storylines.

NFL Betting: 2010 Pro Bowl by Matt Severance - 1/27/2010

If you sign up for the Doc's newsletter, you are guaranteed a starting spot in this Sunday's AFC-NFC Pro Bowl! OK, that's obviously not true, but it seems that hardly any players of value want in for this year's Pro Bowl, which of course is not in Hawaii the week after the Super Bowl -- as has been the case since 1980 -- but instead in Miami the week before the big game at the same site.
Read more about NFL Pro Bowl Betting.

We are into the nitty-gritty of the NFL Playoffs, so now is where things really start to get good. There are, of course, only two games on tap this weekend. That means that betting volumes on each of the games is going to be much higher than a typical NFL game. High volumes means that the spreads and totals are going to be under a whole lot of pressure, and they will react strongly to unbalanced betting activity.
Read more about NFL Public Action Betting Report.

Championship weekend in the NFL is here and just two games remain before the Super Bowl match-up is determined. This year marks some of the most interesting matchups in recent memory for the championship games. Two of the top offenses in the NFL collide in the NFC Championship Game as the world waits to see if Brett Farve can make it back to the Super Bowl at 40 years of age.
Read more about NFL Free Props Predictions.

Interesting NFL Championship Game Props by Trevor Whenham - 1/21/2010

The best part about the NFL playoffs is the crazy number and range of prop bets that are available for the games. This trend really reaches a crescendo for the Super Bowl, but there is no shortage of interesting props for this weekend's Championship round. Here's a look at a few of the more interesting (all props are from Bodog):
Read more about NFL Championship Game Props.

The NFL Championship round is always fun to watch - the four best teams in the league (at least theoretically) playing for the highest possible stakes. The down side of this week of action, though, is that there are only two games to handicap. You can only spend so much time on two games no matter how hard you look at them, so there is more down time this week then we have been used to since the football season started.
Read more about NFL Championship Game Quarterback Rankings.

AFC Championship Game Preview: Jets at Colts by Robert Ferringo - 1/20/2010

I have to admit, I was losing faith. After watching the opening weekend of the NFL playoffs and seeing scores like 51-45, 34-13 and 33-14 I was convinced that football, at least this year, was drifting away and being replaced by seven-on-seven drills. Run the ball and play good defense. That's what I'm looking for. That's the tried-and-true method of winning in the NFL playoffs. And as I looked around I didn't see a whole lot of teams subscribing to that theory.
Read more about AFC Championship Game Preview.

NFC Championship Game Preview: Vikings at Saints by Robert Ferringo - 1/20/2010

Jasper Brinkley, come on down. Brinkley, the rookie middle linebacker for Minnesota, is in the eye of the storm in one of the biggest games in the history of either the New Orleans Saints or the Minnesota Vikings. He was thrust into this position due to an injury to Vikings starting MLB and defensive leader E.J. Henderson last month. So now it's on Brinkley to shore up the heart of a defense facing one of the best offenses in the NFL.
Read more about NFC Championship Game Preview.

Courtesy of Brobury Sports, we'll take a look at three prop bet option bets available on the skill players involved in the NFL's championship weekend. That's the beauty of playoff football - unique betting options. Let's start with the quarterbacks and Brobury's odds for which QB will have the most passing yards this weekend:
Read more about NFL Championship Weekend Props Predictions.

Bad Coaching Dooms Dallas, San Diego by Robert Ferringo - 1/18/2010

In the least surprising news that I've heard since Sarah Palin joining Fox News, Wade Philips and Norv Turner once again humiliated themselves and their teams on Sunday en route to a premature playoff exit. Weird. I've been repeating this over and over and over again all season and have said that I was just waiting for their most recent implosion.
Read more about Bad NFL Coaches.

The second round of the NFL playoffs start Saturday. This is when things really start to get interesting. The further we get into the playoffs, the more attention the general public pays to the games, and the more money they bet on the games. That means that the lines are going to be under more pressure now than they are in a regular season game.
Read more about NFL Playoffs Line Movement Divisional Round.

The NFL Playoffs kicked off in a big way with a number of storylines last week. The Dallas Cowboys ended a 13-year drought when they took down the Eagles for the second straight week in a row. The Ravens dominated the Patriots and it seems the New England dynasty may have finally come crumbling down.
Read more about Free NFL Props Predictions.

NFL Handicapping: Kurt Warner's History Against the Spread by Trevor Whenham - 1/14/2010

Kurt Warner made quite a splash before his playoff game against the Packers last week when news leaked out that Warner was likely eyeing retirement after this season. He made an even bigger splash wen he didn't let the distraction of that news bother him and went out and played close to a perfect game.
Read more about Kurt Warner Against the Spread.

The Cowboys (12-5) will line up to crunch skulls with the Vikings (12-4) at 1 p.m. on Sunday in the Metrodome. This game will match up two of the most physically imposing, most bloodthirsty, most rage-filled teams in the NFL and will be a contest of attrition. With two punishing running games and mountainous offensive lines clashing with a pair of maniacal and abusive defenses this game should be more of a throwback to the type of Playoff Football that we've come to expect from the NFL.
Read more about Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota Vikings Preview.

Let's see, if the Arizona Cardinals can score 51 points - with Kurt Warner throwing more touchdown passes (five) than incompletions (four) -- against a Green Bay defense that was second in the NFL in the regular season, what can Arizona do against a New Orleans unit that fell off big time at the end of the year?
Read more about Arizona Cardinals at New Orleans Saints Preview.

AFC Divisional Round Preview: New York Jets at San Diego Chargers by Nicholas Tolomeo - 1/12/2010

If the Jets backed into the playoffs then the Chargers made a dead out sprint into the postseason, running the table after their 34-23 loss to Denver back on Oct. 19. This may be the ugly duckling of the divisional round of the NFL Playoffs with the underwhelming Jets headed into San Diego as nine-point underdogs.
Read more about Jets at Chargers Preview.

There are certain NFL Playoff rules every bettor has in the back of his or her mind. They pertain to road teams or rookie quarterbacks or warm climate teams playing in the cold or dome teams playing on real grass. But there seems to be one constant year in and year out with NFL playoff football and those are the guys with the headsets on.
Read more about NFL Playoff Coaches.

About four years ago the idea of a team, in the playoffs, heading to New England and beating Tom Brady one week and then going to Indianapolis and beating Peyton Manning the next would be about as likely as me sleeping with Alessandra Ambrosio one weekend and Megan Fox the next.
Read more about Baltimore Ravens at Indianapolis Colts Preview.

The wild card round gets underway on Saturday. The betting volume is always huge for the playoffs - more casual bettors pay attention when the playoffs roll around, and fewer games on offer mean that bettors have more to spend on each game. Because the volumes are higher, the lines are under more pressure than normal, and we need to be more aware of how they are moving and what that can tell us.
Read more about NFL Wild Card Line Movement.

A week after the regular season concluded, the postseason will get started with NFL Wild Card Weekend this Saturday. One of the interesting facts about the opening round of the playoffs is that three of the four games will feature Week 17 rematches. With so many interesting games on the table, we look to narrow in on a couple of profitable NFL betting lines and cash in big.
Read more about Free NFL Props Predictions.

The one thing that makes Sunday's AFC wild-card round game between Baltimore and New England stand out from the other three playoff games is that Ravens-Pats is the only matchup of the four that wasn't also played in Week 17 - New England is a 3.5-point favorite on Bodog.
Read more about Ravens at Patriots Preview.

NFL Playoff Betting Adjustments by Trevor Whenham - 1/7/2010

The NFL playoffs are finally here. Anyone who has been sports betting for a while knows that the NFL playoffs are a very different animal from the regular season. If you approach the games in January in the same way you handicapped games in October then you are going to be in trouble. Here's a collection of some of the adjustments you'll want to think about making before you make your first bet:
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Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson is no doubt fast. He ran a 4.24 at the 2008 NFL Scouting Combine for the best time that year (supposedly the best ever is Deion Sanders' 4.17, but timing systems have changed dramatically over the years). Johnson's speed was on display often this year as he became the sixth back to top 2,000 yards rushing in a season, set an NFL record for yards from scrimmage and he had three touchdown runs of 85 yards or longer - no other player has managed that in a career.
Read more about Chris Johnson vs. Usain Bolt,.

AFC Wild Card Preview: Jets at Bengals by Nicholas Tolomeo - 1/6/2010

If we are to believe Marvin Lewis that his team approached last Sunday night's game against the Jets as any other game and that they were trying to win, then logic says this should be as lopsided as an NFL playoff game can be.
Read more about Jets at Bengals Preview.

Yet another Wild Card game rematch of a Week 17 blowout, the Packers return to the playoffs as a much different team than when we last saw them in the postseason (in 2007) and the Cardinals do too. Last time we saw the Packers in the playoffs without Brett Favre under center was 1982.
Read more about Packers at Cardinals Preview.

NFL Playoff Predictions by Trevor Whenham - 1/6/2010

With the NFL Playoffs just around the corner, now is the time to make some fearless predictions. NFL Playoff predictions are incredibly difficult to make accurately. Though there are only 12 teams in the tournament it always seems like what happens is precisely what no one expects. Regardless, here are eight NFL Playoff predictions that I feel pretty good about. For now.
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Wade Phillips and the Dallas Cowboys are hosting Philadelphia at 8 p.m. on Saturday in the Wild Card Round of the NFL playoffs. The Cowboys are four-point favorites while searching for their first playoff win since 1996. In that time they have lost six consecutive postseason games, an NFL record, including a home loss to the Giants in 2007 under Phillips.
Read more about Eagles at Cowboys Preview.

2010 Super Bowl Predictions by Trevor Whenham - 1/5/2010

After a season that seemed like it might never end, the NFL playoffs are finally here. That means that now is as good a time as any to make some Super Bowl predictions. I do this every year at this time, and I am still waiting for the time when I am right, but the thought that I might be one year is more than enough to keep me going. I'll take a look at each of the 12 playoff teams and their Super Bowl chances (Super Bowl odds are from Bodog):
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Sports Betting: Third Game Myth by Hunter Price - 1/5/2010

For decades the common belief throughout the NFL has been that it's extremely hard to beat a team three times in a single season. The 2010 NFL postseason brings with it a couple of potential rematches that will test this myth.
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